Regional Headquarters, Regional Operating Headquarters (RHQ/ROHQ)

Metro Manila Head Office

Address: 12F Sagittarius Building,
111, H.V. Dela Costa Street Salcedo Village, Makati City 1227
Tel: +63 (02) 8540-9623
Email: info@araraa.com

A Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ) is the local office extension of a foreign corporation that may generate income in the Philippines through rendering services to its head office, affiliates, branches, or subsidiaries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region or other foreign markets. Under the Philippine law RA 8756, any international company may set up an RHQ or ROHQ provided the company has affiliates, branches, and subsidiaries in the Asia Pacific Region and other foreign markets.

A multi-national company’s most common reason for setting up regional operating headquarters or a regional headquarters in the Philippines is to isolate their operations from across the seas to their operations in the Philippines for legal and tax purposes.

An ROHQ follows the laws of the country where its parent company is located. As such, it does not have a separate legal personality.

An ROHQ is allowed to engage only in the following activities:

• Business development
• Business planning and coordination
• Corporate finance advisory services
• Data processing and communications
• General administration and planning
• Logistics services
• Marketing control and sales promotion
• Research and development services and product development
• Sourcing/procurement of raw materials component
• Technical support and maintenance

Philippine Regional Operating Headquarters (ROHQ) Incentives:

Regional operating headquarters in the Philippines may benefit from multiple incentives:

Fiscal Incentives:

• Importation of devices and materials for training without paying for taxes and duties
• Local tax exemption except for real property tax on land improvements and equipment
• Importation of brand new motor vehicles (subject to payment of taxes and duties)
• Tax and duty-free importation of used household goods and personal effects.
• Travel tax exemption.

Other Incentives for Expatriates:

• Multiple-Entry Visa
  • For ex-pats, including their spouse and unmarried children under twenty-one (21).
  • Exemption from payment of fees except for reasonable management expenses.
  • Exemption from obtaining an Alien Certificate of Registration.
  • Non-immigrant visa(s) will be processed within seventy-two (72) hours after receipt of requirements by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

• Proof of inward remittance:
  • USD 200,000 remittance for ROHQ (to be paid once only)
• Audited financial statements of the head office proving its financial solvency
• Board Resolution approving the formation of the RHQ/ROHQ in the Philippines
• Certified copy of the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
• Certification from the governing body of the company’s country of origin that the company is involved in international trade with affiliates, branch offices, or subsidiaries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and other foreign markets
• Clearance from appropriate government agencies, if applicable.

• Reserve name from Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Submit documents for processing to SEC.
• Submit proof of inward remittance from a local bank.
• Submit BOI endorsement.
• Pay the required filing fees.
• Secure Certificate of Registration from the records division of SEC.
• Secure a business permit/mayor’s permit.
• For employers, complete registration with BIR, Pag-Ibig, Philhealth, and SSS.

For companies needing further help establishing a regional operating headquarters in the Philippines, Contact Us here.

Triple i is the first ISO 9001:2008 company in the Philippines to offer business registration services to its clients. With over ten years of processing government documents, securing business certificates, and providing business consulting services, the company offers the following services connected with setting up a regional operating headquarters in the Philippines:

• Bookkeeping and other financial services
• Offering corporate compliance and filing of reports
• Creation of employment manuals, HR guidelines, and employment contracts
• Fitting out of the office
• Other types of business registration structures
• Searching for office locations
• Payroll services
• Registration of the company with the BOI and SEC
• Securing a business/mayor’s permit

Need assistance? Contact us here , fill out the form below, call us at +63 (02) 8540-9623, or email us at info@araraa.com to book an initial consultation with one of our ROHQ business registration experts.